Showing Love to Orphans

This Valentine's Day, we are not celebrating with cards, chocolates and gifts. This year, Cliff and I have decided to celebrate our love for one another but most importantly our love for God, by buying a mattress for an orphan.

After returning from Africa, one of the biggest problems I had was living in all my abundance while knowing so many were living with nothing. Poverty was no longer just a word, it now had a face and when I closed my eyes it was their faces that I saw.

I kept asking God what I was suppose to do. I am a doer and I like to get busy doing things. But being this far away I just wasn't sure what I was suppose to do. So I continued to pray.

A few weeks ago, in a series of random events that can only be described as God, I got in contact with the Pastor at the church where my sweet little Brenda is living. I was able to find out more information about Brenda and her situation. We also learned more about Jack, the boy that Cliff had a special connection with. And through my emails with the Pastor, God answered my prayer of what I should do to help those in Uganda.

New Hope School of Orphans, located close to Kenya, had money donated to them through Pennies for Posho to build an orphanage. They are actually building a dorm where the children will sleep. The building will be completed this month. They have the bunk bed frames, but no mattresses. When I heard this, I knew exactly what I could do to help.

So, Cliff and I are raising money to buy 70 mattresses. In the orphanages, it is rare for a child to have a bed of their own. The reality of the situation is that 2 or 3 children sleep on one twin bed. In fact, at New Hope School of Orphans they will have 70 beds but have 298 children.

I would like to give you the opportunity to change the life of a child in Uganda. For $31 you can purchase a mattress for a child. Basically if our family of 4 gives up eating out just 1 meal, we have $31.

We will be giving the money to Pennies for Posho. In April, they will be traveling to Uganda and will purchase and have the mattresses delivered to the school.

If you would like to purchase a mattress, make your check payable to Pennies for Posho and mail it to 85 Emerald Hills Lane, Newnan, Georgia 30263. We will send all the money over to Pennies.

This is a picture of Jack and Brenda at school.

Do you know what I noticed when I saw this picture of Jack? He is wearing the same clothes that he was wearing the day we met him. Do you know what the reality is for Jack...those are the only clothes he owns.


God Bless You!

The Count Down Has Begun

The count down has officially begun for our trip to Africa. In twenty four days, I will be taking off from Atlanta headed to Uganda. I am very excited but as the days get closer I find myself getting a little nervous.

This is my first time out of the country and my first time being on an airplane for so long. We fly from Atlanta to Amsterdam and then from Amsterdam to Uganda. Each leg is about eight hours. I'll be honest and tell you that I really try not to think about that too much.

I know in my heart that all the worries and anxious feelings will melt away the first time I wrap my arms around one of the children. I just hope I can let go!

On Sunday of our trip we will visit an orphanage located on a small island. We will have to take a boat ride to get there. They have told us that this is the poorest of the poor. We were then told that the children have to sleep in the grass.

I know that sentence just needs a minute to sink in.

There are children that have no place to sleep and therefore must sleep outside in the grass, everyday. I am overwhelmed at the reality of this. My heart hurts when I think about these poor children. What can I, a white woman from Georgia, offer these children? How can I help them?

I can do nothing... but I know Hope! I know the One who knows each of those children by name and knows the very hairs on their heads. So I pray that as I hug those sweet babies and maybe paint a few fingernails that they will feel the hope of Jesus coming from within me.

Oh for the Glory of His Renown!

Preparing for Africa

Last night we met with others going on the trip to Africa. It was great to see who God had brought together for the trip and you just know that a special bond will be formed between us. We did not get to meet everyone going, as some live out of state, but we did meet some of our fellow travelers.

I am a planner and I like (okay I NEED) details. This meeting helped me so much. We are going to be gone for 9 days, returning on the 10th. We are only packing in carry on luggage because our suitcase space will be used to bring over supplies. I will be honest and tell you that when I first heard of this that I struggled a little bit with it. We learned about the packing a few weeks ago. I know that the supplies are desperately needed but it was at first a little hard to wrap my brain around packing for 9 days in a carry on. I get it now and I am excited about the challenge to see how much I can get in my 45 linear inches I am allowed.

The preparations for this trip have been a huge lesson in selflessness. It is not about me and what I'm wearing or what I look like. That is so opposite the message we hear in this country. I have to wear tennis shoes and socks with my skirts or I can opt for hiking boots. That is a style that I never venture out in around these parts. I was also told there is no need for makeup. They said we will get so dirty from the bus rides (red dirt dust blowing in the windows) that we'll need to wipe our faces off when we arrive at the orphanages. They shared a funny story of arriving at an orphanage and one of the children saying "look they are orange people." Their new color was all from the bus ride.

Probably the most uncomforable bit of information that I gleened was that there are no real bathrooms. Just picture more of a hole in the ground. But most of the time you just go in the wild. Ladies let that sink in for a second. I was cautioned to put bug spray everywhere! I'll be honest and tell you that tonight I thanked God for my bathroom. I am so very spoiled.

Then we learned more specifics of where we are going each day and that put everything into perspective. One day we will be traveling by boat to an island and visiting what we were told were the poorest of the poor. The children at the orphanage where we are going do not have their own rooms like my children. They do not have the luxury of sharing a room or even have a bed. These children have to sleep in the grass.

They sleep in the grass where bugs are crawling and animals are roaming...and there they lay.

I just keep asking how I am suppose to see that with my own eyes and survive? How am I suppose to see beautiful little children who must sleep in the grass and then get back on the boat and leave? How can I be concerned with bathrooms and clothes when there are children who have to sleep every night in the grass?

I do not have any answers. I just trust that God will give me the strength to survive such an experience. I know I will never be the same. How could anyone be the same?

Busy Weekend!

We have had a super busy weekend. We had a yard sale this weekend to try to offset some of our expenses for our trip to Africa.

I spent the end of last week cleaning out and gathering stuff for the yard sale. In the process, I cleaned and organized our bonus room which is the kids playroom. I also had lots to do in my daughter's room. Let's just say that she has a hard time parting with items.

I took my camera to snap a few pictures at the yard sale, but we were so busy I did not get the chance. We opened the garage at 7:00 am and someone was already waiting. We weren't planning on opening up for business until 7:30, but our first customer just couldn't wait. It drove me a little crazy, but they did buy a lot of stuff.

God blessed us tremendously! We had picked an amount that we were hoping to make and God blessed us by far exceeding what we had dreamed up. We are so thankful and give Him all the glory for providing everything we need!